Torenia plant named ‘Sunrekokuri’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Torenia  plant named ‘Sunrekokuri’, characterized by its compact and mounding to trailing plant habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; light yellow and violet-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Torenia sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNREKOKURI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Torenia plant, botanically known as Torenia sp. and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunrekokuri’.

The new Torenia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new compact and freely branching Torenia plants with numerous attractive flowers.

The new Torenia plant is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of a proprietary selection of Torenia sp, identified as code number 06-13-1, not patented. The new Torenia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor on a single flowering plant from within a population of plants of the parent selection in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in January, 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the new Torenia plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since February, 2009 has shown that the unique features of this new Torenia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Torenia have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sunrekokuri’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunrekokuri’ as a new and distinct Torenia plant:

-   -   1. Compact and mounding to trailing plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Light yellow and violet-colored flowers.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Torenia differ primarily from plants of the parent selection primarily in flower color as plants of the parent selection have yellow-colored flowers with brownish tones.

Plants of the new Torenia can be compared to plants of Torenia ‘Danmoon20’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,176. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the new Torenia and ‘Danmoon20’ differed in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Torenia were shorter and had shorter         internodes than plants of ‘Danmoon20’.     -   2. Plants of the new Torenia and ‘Danmoon20’ differed in flower         color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Torenia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Torenia plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunrekokuri’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunrekokuri’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in 15-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and under cultural practices typical for commercial Torenia production. During the production of the Torenia plants, day temperatures averaged 23° C. and night temperatures averaged 15° C. Plants were six months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Torenia sp. ‘Sunrekokuri’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of Torenia sp.     identified as code number 06-13-1, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About one week at 20° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant roots.—About three to             four weeks at 15° C. to 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form/habit.—Compact and mounded to trailing plant             habit; outwardly spreading; vigorous growth habit; freely             branching habit with numerous lateral branches developing             per plant, pinching enhances branching potential.         -   Plant height.—About 15.6 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 58.6 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 18.5 cm. Diameter: About             2.5 mm. Internode length: About 4.9 cm. Aspect: Upright to             decumbent. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 3 cm.         -   Width.—About 3 cm.         -   Shape.—Broadly ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Truncate.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 144A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 144B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B; venation,             close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 137D; venation, close to 144B.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 7.7 mm. Diameter: About 0.7 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type/habit.—Single flowers borne in upper leaf axils;             corolla bilabiate and calyx tubular; flowers face obliquely             upright; freely flowering habit with about 59 flowers             developing per plant.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about three             to four weeks after planting; long flowering period;             continuously flowering from early summer to late autumn in             Japan.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about four days on             the plant.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 6.4 mm.             Shape: Ellipsoidal. Color: Close to 83A; towards the apex,             close to 5A.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.8 cm by 2.5 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 3.3 cm.         -   Throat diameter.—About 9.4 mm.         -   Tube diameter, base.—About 2.9 mm.         -   Tube length.—About 2 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Bilabiate with one upper or             banner petal and one lower petal with two lateral and one             lower lobes, petals fused. Upper petal: Length: About             1.4 cm. Width: About 1.9 cm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex:             Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Developing, upper surface: Close to             2A. Developing, lower surface: Close to 3D. Fully developed,             upper surface: Close to 2A. Fully developed, lower surface:             Close to 2D. Lower petal: Length, lateral lobes: About             9.5 mm. Width, lateral lobes: About 1.5 cm. Length, lower             lobe: About 1.4 cm. Width, lower lobe: About 1.5 cm. Shape,             lateral and lower lobes: Elliptic. Apex, lateral and lower             lobes: Rounded. Margin, lateral and lower lobes: Entire.             Texture, lateral and lower lobes, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous. Color, lateral lobes: Developing, upper             surface: Close to 2D. Developing, lower surface: Close to             3D. Fully developed, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 2D.             Color, lower lobes: Developing, upper surface: Close to 2D;             blotch, close to 7A. Developing, lower surface: Close to 3D.             Fully developed, upper surface: Close to 2D; blotch, close             to 7A. Fully developed, lower surface: Close to 2D. Throat             color: Close to 87C. Tube color: Close to 88A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five, fused;             ellipsoidal; margins winged. Calyx length: About 1.8 cm.             Calyx diameter: About 6.9 mm. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, immature, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 144B. Color, mature, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 144A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.9 cm. Diameter: About 1.7 mm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 143C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically             four; two pairs of fused anthers. Filament length: About 4             mm to 14 mm. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther size: About 3             mm by 0.5 mm. Anther color: Close to N82C. Pollen amount:             Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 11B. Pistils: Quantity per             flower: One. Pistil length: About 2.4 cm. Stigma shape:             Elliptic. Stigma color: Close to N155C. Style color: Close             to N155C. Ovary color: Close to 144B.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been             observed on plants of the new Torenia. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Torenia have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Torenia. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Torenia have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 30° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Torenia plant named ‘Sunrekokuri’ as illustrated and described. 